Probe launched into playground tragedy

An investigation is under way to determine what caused a huge tree to topple over in a school playground, killing an eight-year-old girl and injuring three of her classmates.

Experts from the Health and Safety Executive were visiting West Ashtead County Primary to make an examination after Rianna Davenport died from multiple injuries when she was trapped with a fellow pupil beneath the Corsican pine.

Pupils at the school in Ashtead, Surrey, ran screaming as the tree plunged to the ground where a group of Year 3 children were queuing to return inside from their lunch break on Thursday.

There was speculation that fierce winds over the last few days may have weakened the tree, though witnesses said the weather was calm at the time it fell.

Three children were injured. One was kept in the children's ward of Epsom General Hospital overnight with a leg injury. Her condition was described as "comfortable".

The other two children, who suffered minor injuries, were discharged last night.

Detective Chief Inspector Martin Parker, from Surrey Police, said the Health and Safety Executive is to visit the site.

He said: "The tree will be taken away, parts of the tree will be preserved and they will be examined in due course.

"This is not being treated as a criminal investigation. From what I've seen it is a tragic accident."